Key-ring holder



March 17, 1931. J. x. MINEHART KEY RING HOLDER Filed Jan. 10, 1930 J. X. ll'mehart INVENTOR ATTORN EY5 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 JACOB XOMA MINEI-IART, or roar MADISON, ioWA KEY-RING HOLDER Application filed January 10, 1930. Serial No. 419,931.

My invention relates to improvements in key ring holders, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

5 An object of my invention is to provide a key ring holder of the type carried by a belt and in which novel means is provided whereby the device may be easily and quickly associated with a belt while the latter is being is worn.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described in which certain structure, while primarily designed for the purpose of supporting a key ring, is also arranged to function as a part of the means for attaching the device to a belt.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly $9 pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which I Figure 1 is a front elevation of my device showing its application to a belt,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the hinge portion in an open position,

Figure 4 is a view showing the manner in which the hinge portion is locked, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a substantially Ushaped member 1 formed from relatively thin sheet metal. The member 1 is bent at 2 for forming portions 3 and i. It will be noted that the portion 4 is somewhat shorter than its companion portion 3. While I have defined the construction as being formed from sheet metal it will be under stood, of course, that any other suitable material may be employed.

A hinge member 5 is movably secured to the portion 3 as at 6. The hinge portion is provided with an opening 7 and a flange 8 formed to provide projecting portions 9. A snap fastener 10 is mounted for rotation about a pin 11 upon the portion 4. The snap fastener may be rotated about its axis in either direction as when viewing Figure 1. The snap fastener is arranged for supporting a key ring 12.

In operation, the device upon a belt, such as that indicated at 13, the snap fastener is movedto the position shown in Figure/i at which time the hinge portion?) may be lifted as shown in Figure 3. her 1 may shown in Figure 2. The portion in being when it is desired to place At this time the Ushaped membe disposed upon the belt'13 as shorter than the portion 3 permits the edge ofthe belt to beinserted between the two p01,-

tions. The opening 7 in the hinge member 5 permits the hinge member to be moved away from the U-shaped member 1 when'the snap fastener is positloned as shown n Figures 3 and 4. i

After the U-shaped member l has been placed upon the belt the hinge portion is' moyed to the position shown in'Figure 4 at which time the snap fastener 10 may be rotated about its axis for positioning the fastener as shown in Figure 1. Thelugs or proectmg portions 9 are aligned so that the snap fastener 10 is positively held in the position shown in Figure 1. The lugs 9 are sufficient ly flexible to permit the snap fastener to be easily rotated past either one of the projec-,

tions.

It will be noted that one of the main features of my invention is the fact that my device may be disposed upon a belt at any time,

particularly while the belt is being worn..

The hinge member v5 is effectively locked when the snap fastener is positioned as shown in Figure 1.

I claim:

1. A key ring holder comprising U-shaped means arranged for receiving a belt, a mov able member carried by the U-shaped means and having an opening therein, and a key ring holding element movably carried by said U-shapedmeans and arranged for passing through the opening in said movable member whereby the latter may be locked with respect to the U-shaped means when the key ring holding element is moved into engagement with the movable member- 2. A key ring holder comprising a U- shaped member arranged for receiving a belt, a movable member hingedly carried thereby and having an opening, and a snap fastener carried by said U-shaped member and being movably mounted thereon and arranged to be aligned with the opening in said hinge member whereby the latter may be passed over the snap fastener, sa-id snapfastener being arranged to be moved into'engagement With the hinge member for locking the latter With respect to the U shaped memberr 3. A key ring holder comprising a U shaped member arranged for receivingiabelt, a movable member hingedly carried thereby and having an openingfan d a snap fasteners carried by. said urshapedmember an'd being movably mounted thereon and arranged to be aligned with the opening in said hinge member whereby the latter may be passed over the vsnap fastener, said snap fastener being arranged tobejfmoved int engagement with the hinge member for locking the latter with, respeet to the, U-shaped member, said movable member being provided with projecting portions, for e'ngagingthe snap fastener for holding the same in a predetermined'position,

4. Akey'ring. holder comprising a pair of hinged together member arranged to be positioned uponopposite sides of a belt, and a key ringholding element carried by one of saidniembersand arranged to be moved into engagement with the other of the members for holding the tWo in operative relation upontheibelt.

Signedat Fort Madison, in the county of Lee, and State,v of Iowa this second! day of January A; D. nineteen hundred thirty.

JACOB XOM MINEHAR 

